Residents in Riverside will be able to vote for a new elected ward member after a resignation was announced today.

Gwenllian Lansdown, who has served as ward member for six years, announced she will be standing down today in order to get married and settle in Powys.

The second byelection since the last council elections in 2008, two electors will be required to call an election by the end of today for the local vote to go ahead.

Riverside councillor Gwenllian Lansdown PR

The Plaid Cymru councillor Gwenllian Lansdown announced her resignation from the post this morning. She told us:

"I have enjoyed representing the people of Riverside and having the opportunity to meet so many people in the local community.

"My boyfriend and I recently got engaged and are getting married in the summer and moving three hours away from Cardiff which is too far to commute.

"Since there are two polls on the 3 March and 5 May, I felt the I would stand down now so the council can hold a byelection because the next council elections aren't until 2012.

"It's a very happy occasion for me and my fiancé, but it's also a great sadness to leave Riverside and Cardiff."

Plaid Cymru leader Neil McEvoy said:

"Gwenllian Lansdown has been a brilliant councillor in Riverside and has made a massive contribution.

"We are all sad to see her go, but very happy for her personally. Gwenllian is very well respected in the community and was an integral part of a small, close knit team that developed Plaid so much in Cardiff from 2003 onwards.

"We all wish her well as a highly valued colleague and friend."

Fellow ward member Mohammed Islam said:

"Obviously I've worked with her over the years and she will be missed here by myself and the ward."

In the last elections in Riverside in 2008, 39% of the electorate turned out to vote, with councillor Lansdown receiving 1,064 votes. You can download the previous council election results here.

Lansdown added that she hoped the seat will go to another Plaid representative.

"Of course I'll be leaving and Plaid will be working hard in the community to make sure we keep that seat and I'm looking forward to the campaign."

The first election during this current council term, Riverside residents will be able to vote on a new councillor for their ward on a date due to be set by Cardiff council.

A Cardiff council spokesperson said:

"Notice of the vacancy will be published today. That notice invites any two electors to request an election to fill the vacancy.

"The election will be held on a date to be fixed by the Returning Officer within 35 working days from the date of the receipt of the request."